Singapore refers eight civil servants to police over MRT property purchases

Eight public service officers have been referred to the police. This follows a government review of property purchases near locations that were later announced as MRT stations. The referrals were made by Singapore's Public Service Division (PSD). Their cases warranted further examination due to specific circumstances or insufficient information to exclude them. The eight officers were among 191 whose transactions were scrutinized.

Scope and basis of the review

The PSD examined 191 officers' property transactions between 2007 and 2014. The review focused on purchases close to locations subsequently announced as MRT stations. Government records identified officers who worked in agencies involved in rail planning. For each transaction, the PSD examined the officer's role at the time. They assessed whether the officer had access to relevant non-public information. The timing and circumstances of the transaction were also reviewed. The PSD extended its review to 2014 as a matter of prudence. This was because many new MRT station locations continued to be announced after 2011.

Findings from the NBER paper

The allegations originated from a working paper by the American non-profit National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). The NBER paper claimed a pattern of mid-level Singapore civil servants purchasing homes near MRT stations before public announcement. It reported a statistical association between civil servants in rail planning agencies and purchases of private property near planned MRT stations before public announcement. The pattern occurred in the one to two years before station locations were announced. Civil servants made 113 such purchases worth about S$138 million. The pattern was observed for MRT station announcements made in or before 2011. The NBER paper identified the period of concern as 2007 to 2011.

Government safeguards and response

Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing addressed Parliament on the matter on Tuesday, Oct 6, 2026. He was responding to questions from nine Members of Parliament. Chan Chun Sing said a referral does not mean wrongdoing has been established. "Let me emphasise that a referral does not mean that wrongdoing has been established," he said. The police will look into the facts independently and due process will be followed. Chan Chun Sing said unauthorised use or disclosure of official information may constitute an offence under the law. Existing safeguards include controlling access to sensitive information on a need-to-know basis. Chan Chun Sing said even with strong safeguards, no system can eliminate the possibility of wrongdoing entirely. He said they must reduce opportunities for abuse, maintain detection means, and act firmly where evidence emerges. Public officers must never use information obtained through their official duties to advance their own private interests or those of others. The public service code of conduct prohibits using official information for private interests. Sensitive information is subject to security classification, handling requirements, and access controls. Officers must declare purchases of private property and non-owner-occupied properties. Declaration requirements have been in place since the 1990s and have been progressively tightened. Officers with non-public information must seek agency head approval before proceeding with personal transactions. Requirements extend to transactions involving officers’ spouses and financially dependent children. This supplements the existing requirement for all public officers to declare private property purchases.

Parliamentary context and timing

The questions in Parliament concerned the government’s review of claims that civil servants disproportionately bought properties near planned but unannounced MRT stations. They also concerned whether existing safeguards against misuse of non-public information are adequate and should be strengthened. Chan Chun Sing said the public service regularly reviews its rules and has strengthened them over time. They will consider what the review tells them about effectiveness and whether there are gaps. Any further measures should be proportionate to risks and practical to implement. Legitimate personal transactions should proceed with appropriate oversight. If facts disclose grounds for concern, they will be referred to appropriate authorities. If wrongdoing is established, the government will act firmly. The government will learn from the episode and strengthen safeguards if gaps are revealed. Chan Chun Sing said this upholds integrity standards and maintains public trust. The government aims to complete the review as soon as possible. The government will assess the review’s findings on safeguard effectiveness, identify any gaps, and consider proportionate, practical measures to strengthen oversight while allowing legitimate transactions.